SAN FRANCISCO / No panic over report of new HIV strain / Infection back East worries some here, others indifferent

Leslie Fulbright, Chronicle Staff Writer

Published 4:00 am, Sunday, February 13, 2005

Reports of a new and deadlier strain of the AIDS virus were beginning to circulate through the Castro district Saturday, bringing reactions ranging from indifference to fear.

East Coast health officials announced Friday that they had detected a form of HIV in a New York man that appears to be resistant to drug treatment and leads to the rapid onset of AIDS.

Although it's only a single case, the discovery triggered a nationwide alert and renewed calls for people to follow safer sex practices. AIDS experts said it's impossible to predict how great a threat the newfound strain might turn out to be.

"We hope that it will go away but anyone who is doing something to place themselves at risk has to recognize they could be infected with a virus that may not be sensitive to many of the drugs we are using," said Dr. Jay Levy, a UCSF virologist. "The drugs are only as good as they can work against the virus, and we have got to expect that they will eventually give rise to viruses that are resistant."

In the Castro, many gay men said the news reminded them of the early days of the AIDS epidemic, more than 20 years ago, and some worried it could throw the gay community back into crisis mode. Others said they felt no cause for alarm.

"I think people have become less worried about contracting (HIV), but multiple partners and unprotected sex are nothing new to this community," said Jim Harrison, 48, who came to the Castro to participate in a community fund- raising event. "I don't see that changing any time soon."

Some people said they worried that successful drug treatment has caused men to become complacent, especially those who are just coming out.

Christopher Hall, medical director at Magnet, a community health center that offers HIV testing, said attitudes have evolved over the years and anti- HIV drugs have created a different level of concern.

"I don't think that people are radically changing their behavior because they believe that HIV/AIDS is treatable," he said. "Gay men care about health, want access to health services and remain concerned about HIV."

"AIDS started with one case and quickly spread, so yeah, this is really scary," he said.

Joseph Klein said he wasn't going to get overly worried until he got a better understanding of the new strain.

"My poor mother," he said, while waiting for his laundry to dry. "She will refuse to wait and be out of her mind with worry."

Dia Shanneb, 32, said he feels he has a small chance of contracting HIV because he is in a monogamous relationship. He said his friends are anything but complacent because they don't believe in taking anti-retroviral drugs.

"The drugs are harsh and alter the way people enjoy their lives, and they don't always work," he said.

AIDS clinics and health departments around the country were told the strain has not been reported anywhere other than New York. Many advocates said they would not make official announcements until they had more information, but did say it confirms the need for safe practices.

"We don't know how widespread this might be, but it underscores the need for safe sex and prevention even a quarter century into the epidemic," said Jason Riggs, a spokesman for the STOP AIDS Project. "It is a wakeup call for gay men, the community and the government, and should remind them that AIDS remains a priority."

Riggs said drug resistance is somewhat common among people infected with HIV, but it is not usually paired with a rapid progression of the disease. He said the New York man's reported use of crystal methamphetamine did not surprise him and has been a concern among AIDS advocates for a number of years.

"Meth not only fuels new infections but creates situations where new strains can emerge," he said. "Thirty percent of new infections involve crystal meth use."

The STOP AIDS Project collects data by doing surveys of men on the street. Last year, about 10,000 men were interviewed.

"People who use meth have their sexual inhibitions lowered and are in a highly sexualized state," Riggs said. "They are more likely to have multiple partners and less likely to use condoms."

In the fall, the STOP AIDS Project launched a program to try to help stop meth use.

"It is estimated that 20 percent of gay and bi men in San Francisco have tried crystal in last six months," he said. "We give them information on the correlation between HIV and crystal and let them decide.

"It is known as a party drug for a reason, but the party ends."

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Hall, of Magnet, said his center has a high demand for services, especially rapid HIV testing. He said he will wait for more specific medical information before concluding how big a problem this may be.

"We are starting to get a few questions but it has only been 24 hours," he said Saturday. "I suspect we will get many more."

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